A few of the statistics that stick out as I work my way through the continuing education:

A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association determined that almost half of deaths from heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes in 2012 were related to diet.

Researchers compared the postprandial energy expenditure –metabolic heat from the body when it breaks down nutrients – of eating a whole food diet vs. processed food diet with the same number of calories. The post meal energy output of the processed food diet fell by 48% (Barr & Wright 2010). This extreme of depressed metabolism could certainly be a factor in long-term weight gain.

Research on posture is revealing that holding a posture of confidence and strength, before a job interview, for example, boosts a person’s odds of getting hired. If you thought posture was something to pay attention to only once in a while, I recommend you watch Harvard Business School social psychologist Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk.

Statistics are one moment in time from the researchers. The willingness to do what it takes to take our health and our lives back is our choice. It’s a fierce path to take responsibility for our own health and well being.

One small change at a time creates new habits to gain health and a vibrant life.